Total Complaints
139 filings
KIA RONDO · model year
139 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008KIARONDO carries 139 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 RONDO is air bags with 18 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (16) and vehicle speed control (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2008 RONDO, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
139 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 18 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 16 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 11 |
| ENGINE | 11 |
| STEERING | 8 |
| SUSPENSION | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| STRUCTURE | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
KIA IS RECALLING 6,680 MY 2008-2009 RONDO LX AND EX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4 LITER ENGINE. THE FUEL PUMP MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING, ENGINE HESITATION, AND OTHER IMPAIRMENT MAY RESULT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMIN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 201
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 24 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop immediately as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.
Mileage: 166,000
After hearing a popping in my front end for two days I took my car into my mechanic. He took a look at it and said heâd never seen anything like it before. My stabilizer bar had completely ripped apart from my subframe. He said the metal was as thin as a few pieces of paper and there was rust. He contacted Kia to see if there were any campaigns on my car and there was one for an anti corrosion coating that was not applied. I took my car to my local Kia dealership and they were not interested in helping and said they couldnât even look at it for diagnosis for at least a month and even then didnât know if they would cover it. I am 38 weeks pregnant and have two small children and my mechanic said it was a major safety issue to drive it as is. I contacted Kia corporate and they informed me that it would be covered but I would have to get it diagnosed at a dealership first or pay for it out of pocket. Iâve contacted every dealership within two hours of me and they have all said the
After hearing a popping in my front end for two days I took my car into my mechanic. He took a look at it and said heâd never seen anything like it before. My stabilizer bar had completely ripped apart from my subframe. He said the metal was as thin as a few pieces of paper and there was rust. He contacted Kia to see if there were any campaigns on my car and there was one for an anti corrosion coating that was not applied. I took my car to my local Kia dealership and they were not interested in helping and said they couldnât even look at it for diagnosis for at least a month and even then didnât know if they would cover it. I am 38 weeks pregnant and have two small children and my mechanic said it was a major safety issue to drive it as is. I contacted Kia corporate and they informed me that it would be covered but I would have to get it diagnosed at a dealership first or pay for it out of pocket. Iâve contacted every dealership within two hours of me and they have all said the
MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 187,025
MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 187,025
MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 187,025
MY RONDO SPEEDS UP WHILE I'M DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD, AND IT SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE MY RONDO, IT RUNS HIGH WHEN I START IT AND THERE'S A HESITATION BEFORE IT DRIVES.
MY RONDO SPEEDS UP WHILE I'M DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD, AND IT SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE MY RONDO, IT RUNS HIGH WHEN I START IT AND THERE'S A HESITATION BEFORE IT DRIVES.
MY RONDO SPEEDS UP WHILE I'M DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD, AND IT SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE MY RONDO, IT RUNS HIGH WHEN I START IT AND THERE'S A HESITATION BEFORE IT DRIVES.
THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS FUMES PERIODICALLY IN THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE, I EVEN SMELL IT WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WHEN I START MY VEHICLE IT HESITATES TO START AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT OVER.
WAS IN CAR ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH 3 CAR WRECK. IMPACT WITH REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. AIR BAGS ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. WAS ON HIGHWAY.
Mileage: 68,000
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I REFUEL MY VEHICLE IT HAS DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT HAS STARTED TO STALL. LOOKING AT FORUMS I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUE" BUT NO SOLUTIONS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND IT COMES BACK WITH AN EVAP CODE. THE CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED BUT COME RIGHT BACK ON. I SEE THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE THE FALL OF 2009 AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVEN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOES NOT SHOW UP WHEN I DO THE RECALL SEARCH. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE VEHICLE?
Mileage: 229,000
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I REFUEL MY VEHICLE IT HAS DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT HAS STARTED TO STALL. LOOKING AT FORUMS I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUE" BUT NO SOLUTIONS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND IT COMES BACK WITH AN EVAP CODE. THE CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED BUT COME RIGHT BACK ON. I SEE THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE THE FALL OF 2009 AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVEN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOES NOT SHOW UP WHEN I DO THE RECALL SEARCH. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE VEHICLE?
Mileage: 229,000
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I REFUEL MY VEHICLE IT HAS DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT HAS STARTED TO STALL. LOOKING AT FORUMS I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUE" BUT NO SOLUTIONS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND IT COMES BACK WITH AN EVAP CODE. THE CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED BUT COME RIGHT BACK ON. I SEE THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE THE FALL OF 2009 AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVEN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOES NOT SHOW UP WHEN I DO THE RECALL SEARCH. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE VEHICLE?
Mileage: 229,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP OR ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE FAILED. THE PASSERBY BANGED ON THE FUEL TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY UNKNOWN RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, BUT ALL LINES LED BACK TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL DODGE KIA (3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092, (207) 854-3200) AND THEY INITIALLY HUNG UP ON HER. THEY LATER STATED THAT THEIR WEBSITE WAS DOWN AND PROMISED A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICL
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP OR ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE FAILED. THE PASSERBY BANGED ON THE FUEL TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY UNKNOWN RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, BUT ALL LINES LED BACK TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL DODGE KIA (3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092, (207) 854-3200) AND THEY INITIALLY HUNG UP ON HER. THEY LATER STATED THAT THEIR WEBSITE WAS DOWN AND PROMISED A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICL
Mileage: 150,000
THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING AND ENGINE HESITATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF THIS.
Mileage: 75,182
I TOOK MY 2008 KIA RONDO FOR THE ANNUAL WV STATE INSPECTION TODAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A BROKEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING. HE SAID THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE SPRING SHOULD POP OUT OF IT'S NORMAL POSITION. HE SAID THAT THE END OF THE SPRING COULD RUPTURE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HANDLING OR NOISES THAT ALERTED ME TO THIS CONDITION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BROKEN. I DO NOT SEE ANY KIA RECALLS FOR THIS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,500 MILES ON IT.
Mileage: 112,500
TAKATA RECALL-THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING FOR PASSENGER. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK FOR THE WINDOWS. AND ONE MORE THING. THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOORS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EASILY BREAK, SO YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE DOORS.
Mileage: 75,000
TAKATA RECALL-THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING FOR PASSENGER. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK FOR THE WINDOWS. AND ONE MORE THING. THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOORS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EASILY BREAK, SO YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE DOORS.
Mileage: 75,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.